Carlo Acutis

Carlo Acutis , a British-born Italian web designer, died at the age of 15 and is on his way to becoming a 21st century Saint. Born in London in 1991 to members of a wealthy Italian family they would later move back to Italy. During summer stays with his grandparents, he frequently accompanied them to the local church and pray the rosary. One day during daycare, Carlo exhibited his Christian maturity after being bullied by other children stealing his toys, when his nanny encouraged him to fight back he replied: "Jesus would not be happy if I lost my temper. "He would later attend private schools and received tutoring, but remained an "average student". At age 7 would receive his First Communion and five years later was Confirmed. While Actis's parents hadn't been practicing Catholics, Carlo's incessant questions caused them to return to their faith. In a similar manner, Carlo's Christian influence resulted in new Christian baptisms of the family house keeper, her friend and visiting mother. Acutis continued to demonstrate his interest in the Christian faith as demonstrated by his inquiries into the lives of saints, especially Francis of Assisi and his special devotion to St. Michael the Archangel. Knowing Carlo to be a computer geek, at age 14, his parish priest asked him to create a webpage for their church in Milan. Later, keen to transmit the faith to a younger generation and demonstrating his strong interest in documenting each reported Eucharistic miracle and Marian apparition, he began the design of a his new website. After 2 1/2 years, Carlos's new project was ready for public display , but just weeks before, he would be diagnosed with acute leukemia to die just days after the public launch of his website. His final words to his mother were: "Mom, don't be afraid. Since Jesus became a man, death has become the passage towards life, and we don't need to flee it. Let us prepare ourselves to experience something extraordinary in the eternal life." In 2013, the Catholic Church began the process of formal canonization of Carlo Acutis. After a miracle was attributed to Carlo's intercession was confirmed, he was beatified, placing him on the path to sainthood. How is it possible that such a young man could discover, play and complete his unique role in the Christian Story at such a young age?